以尼雅得醫治
32 彼得周流四方的時候，也到了居住呂大的聖徒那裏； 33遇見一個人，名叫以尼雅，得了癱瘓，在褥子上躺臥八年。 34彼得對他說：「以尼雅，耶穌基督醫好你了， 起來！收拾你的褥子。」他就立刻起來了。 35凡住呂大和沙崙的人都看見了他，就歸服主。
多加復活
36在約帕有一個女徒，名叫大比大，翻希臘話就是多加；她廣行善事，多施賙濟。 37當時，她患病而死，有人把她洗了，停在樓上。 38呂大原與約帕相近；門徒聽見彼得在那裏，就打發兩個人去見他，央求他說：「快到我們那裏去，不要躭延。」 39彼得就起身和他們同去；到了，便有人領他上樓。眾寡婦都站在彼得旁邊哭，拿多加與她們同在時所做的裏衣外衣給他看。 40彼得叫她們都出去，就跪下禱告，轉身對着死人說：「大比大，起來！」她就睜開眼睛，見了彼得，便坐起來。 41彼得伸手扶她起來，叫眾聖徒和寡婦進去，把多加活活地交給他們。 42這事傳遍了約帕，就有許多人信了主。 43此後，彼得在約帕一個硝皮匠西門的家裏住了多日。
各位弟兄姊妹平安，我們剛剛看完了保羅轉變的故事，現在故事線又拉回到了彼得這邊來。我覺得路加不僅是一個非常高明的歷史學家，他也是一個非常厲害的小說家。他把這一本《使徒行傳》的故事寫得像小說一樣，而且還有兩條故事線不斷地在發展。這兩個都充滿了戲劇性的故事，最後會交織在一起。在我們讀這本作品的時候，其實會同時欣賞到一個非常優秀的小說文體。我覺得路加在這一點上做得非常精彩。
他剛剛交代完了保羅的轉變，以及他在各地門徒的幫助和被猶太人的排擠。現在我們看到彼得在另外一邊正在進行的一些事情。首先，我們看到彼得奉耶穌基督的名把一個叫做以尼亞的人醫治了。這個人是一個癱子，他已經癱了八年，完全沒有辦法動，但彼得對他說：「耶穌基督醫好你了，起來！」他就站起來了。
接下來，彼得甚至進行了一個更令人驚喜的事情，就是讓多加復活。多加是一個女門徒，曾經是一個非常好的女性，她在各地幫助人、周濟人等。但她已經死了，屍體被洗乾淨，放在樓上準備下葬。這時候，門徒們聽到彼得在附近，就趕緊請彼得來幫忙。他們其實也不知道彼得能做什麼，畢竟人已經死了。他們真的以為彼得能夠做點什麼嗎？彼得到了那裡，也沒有多做什麼，只說了一句：「多加，起來！」就如他當年看到耶穌對那個小女孩所說的：「我命令你起來！」多加就這樣復活了，重新站起來了。
我們看到，這些神跡的背後，使人們不斷地歸服上帝。這些神跡在初代教會經常發生，好像那時候的使徒們都有神跡的力量一樣，只要他們說的話、做的事都會發生。這樣的神跡奇事在今天是不是變少了呢？我們要明白一些重要的關鍵。
今天上帝沒有在做神跡了嗎？有的，但我們要小心，不要把神跡奇事當成了神的本身。當我們看當年上帝領以色列人出埃及的時候，也是雲柱火柱，供應他們水、肉，瑪哪等，非常多的神跡奇事在他們當中，雖然眼見這麼多神蹟，以色列人還是悖逆。新約中的基督教會剛剛成立，使徒們擁有很大的能力，能夠不斷地施行神跡使人歸主。當時新約聖經還沒有寫完，聖經還沒有被確定，上帝的工作還沒有完全記載下來，直到後來在393年的希波會議上，新約聖經正典才被確認。當時的門徒都沒有完整的聖經可以看，可能是這個原因，上帝給予使徒們一些奇妙的權柄，讓他們能夠行神跡，使眾人能夠信服。
今天的我們有什麼不同呢？在有了全本聖經之後，教會有了可以依據的文字啟示。我們依然可以期待神跡，因為上帝今天依然活著，依然在工作。但是當我們提到神跡時，我們要小心，不要只是注重一些外在表面上的改變，比如當時的瞎眼看見、瘸腿行走等肉體上的神跡。我們不要把上帝設限在這些事情上。如果這些事情真的發生，我們要感恩上帝，但不是每一次禱告這些事情都必然發生。我們更需要看重的是人的翻轉，我們可以確定，如果沒有上帝的介入，人沒有辦法接受福音。所以每一個正在聽福音的人，每一個願意聽福音、願意來的人，其實都是上帝的聖靈在改變這個人的心，這是最大的神跡。
在我們看這段經文的時候，有兩個地方的字我們可以稍微注意一下。在第32節這邊提到的是「聖徒」，然後在第41節彼得說「眾聖徒」。希臘文是「Hagios」，意思是神聖的、聖潔的，但它的字根來源是「不同的」。
所以當我們去理解這個字的時候，我們會發現聖徒的意思其實是與世界不同的人。聽起來很熟悉嗎？因為我們要與世界分別為聖。我們不能夠與這個世界一樣，我們在這個世界，卻不屬這個世界。We are in the world but not of the world. 所以基督徒的意思並不是要我們去遠離世界，我們不是出家人躲得遠遠的在深山裡面修行，而是我們要深深地與這個世界在一起，但不要被這個世界影響，反而要去影響這個世界。我們的行為、我們的生活要讓人看出我們的不同，與世界的不同。世界的風俗如何，我們不能與世界相似，不能夠在世界中被世界同化。
基督徒的身份是恩典，我們得到了一個重要的工作和使命。我們既已經享受了天國的未來福分，將能夠享受永恆的生命及喜樂，同時我們在地上有責任把福音傳給萬民。以色列在舊約裡面被譽為選民，基督徒在新約裡面，上帝啟示我們也是選民。上帝揀選我們，不是要我們瞧不起任何人，也不是要把自己放在一個更高的位置，而是要回應這個恩典，回應這個身份。上帝揀選了我們去為祂工作，與祂一同工作，把福音帶給萬國萬民。基督徒的工作不是要去賺取什麼，而是與上帝一起工作的榮耀職分。
當我們明白這件事情的時候，就會知道我們所做的每一件事情都是恩典。我們不用再去賺取任何事情，不用再用勞力換取恩典。這跟我們所理解的其他宗教所說的行善積德、做好事有好報是不一樣的觀念。
感謝各位的聆聽，我們看到兩條故事線不斷地在交織，最後會合成一條故事。接下來就是彼得在一個硝皮匠家裡面，與外邦的羅馬軍長見面的這個重要時刻。我們看到了羅馬人、外邦人來到了上帝的家中，並且得到了上帝的憐憫。讓我們來看看這些外邦人不斷增加在教會中的更多故事。感謝各位。
Aeneas and Dorcas
As Peter traveled about the country, he went to visit the Lord’s people who lived in Lydda. There he found a man named Aeneas, who was paralyzed and had been bedridden for eight years. “Aeneas,” Peter said to him, “Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and roll up your mat.” Immediately Aeneas got up. All those who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.
In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (in Greek her name is Dorcas); she was always doing good and helping the poor. About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room. Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, “Please come at once!”
Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.
Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called for the believers, especially the widows, and presented her to them alive. This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord. Peter stayed in Joppa for some time with a tanner named Simon.
Dear brothers and sisters, peace be with you. We just finished the story of Paul's transformation, and now the narrative shifts back to Peter. I believe Luke is not only a highly skilled historian but also an exceptional novelist. He wrote the story of Acts like a novel, with two intertwining storylines full of dramatic events that eventually merge. As we read this work, we can simultaneously appreciate its excellent literary style. I think Luke did an outstanding job in this regard.
He just explained Paul's transformation, including the help he received from disciples in various places and the rejection he faced from the Jews. Now, we see Peter on the other side conducting some activities. First, we see Peter, in the name of Jesus Christ, healing a man named Aeneas. This man was a paralytic who had been bedridden for eight years, completely unable to move. But Peter said to him, "Jesus Christ heals you; get up!" And he stood up.
Next, Peter performed an even more astonishing miracle by bringing Tabitha back to life. Tabitha was a female disciple known for her good works and acts of charity. However, she had died, and her body was washed and placed upstairs for burial. When the disciples heard that Peter was nearby, they urgently requested his help. They didn’t really know what Peter could do, given that she was already dead. Could Peter really do something? Peter arrived and simply said, "Tabitha, get up!" Just as he had seen Jesus say to the little girl, "I command you, get up!" Tabitha came back to life and stood up.
We see that these miracles led many people to turn to God. Such miracles were common in the early church, and it seemed that the apostles had the power to perform them. Whenever they spoke or acted, miracles occurred. Has the occurrence of such miracles decreased today? We need to understand some important points.
Does God no longer perform miracles today? He does, but we must be careful not to make miracles the focus. When we look back at how God led the Israelites out of Egypt, He provided them with water, meat, and manna through pillars of cloud and fire, among many other miracles. Despite witnessing so many miracles, the Israelites still rebelled. Similarly, the newly established Christian church in the New Testament saw the apostles perform many miracles, which helped people turn to the Lord. At that time, the New Testament had not been completed or fully recorded. It wasn’t until the Council of Hippo in 393 AD that the New Testament canon was confirmed. The disciples did not have a complete Bible to refer to, so God gave the apostles special authority to perform miracles, which helped people believe.
How are we different today? After the completion of the Bible, the church has a written revelation to rely on. We can still expect miracles because God is still alive and working today. But when we talk about miracles, we must be careful not to focus only on external, physical changes, such as the blind seeing or the lame walking. We should not limit God to such things. If these things happen, we should be grateful to God, but they do not necessarily occur with every prayer. What we need to emphasize more is the transformation of people. Without God’s intervention, people cannot accept the gospel. Each person willing to hear and come to the gospel is experiencing the Holy Spirit’s work in changing their heart, which is the greatest miracle.
When we look at this passage, there are two words to note. In verse 32, the term "saints" is used, and in verse 41, Peter says "all the saints." The Greek word used is "Hagios," which means holy or sacred, but its root meaning is "different."
When we understand this word, we realize that saints are people who are different from the world. Sound familiar? We are to be holy and separate from the world. We are in the world but not of the world. So, being a Christian does not mean we should withdraw from the world. We are not monks hiding away in remote mountains. We are to be deeply engaged with the world but not influenced by it; instead, we should influence the world. Our behavior and our lives should show our difference from the world. We should not conform to the customs of the world or be assimilated by it.
The identity of a Christian is by grace. We have been given an important job and mission. We will enjoy eternal life and joy in the kingdom of heaven, but while on earth, we have the responsibility to spread the gospel to all people. In the Old Testament, Israel was called the chosen people. In the New Testament, God reveals that Christians are also chosen. God chose us not to look down on others or place ourselves above them but to respond to this grace and identity. God chose us to work for Him, to bring the gospel to all nations. The work of a Christian is not about earning anything but the honor of working with God.
When we understand this, we realize that everything we do is by grace. We don’t need to earn anything or labor for our grace. This is different from other religions that talk about doing good deeds for rewards.
Thank you all for listening. We see the two storylines constantly intertwining and eventually merging into one. Next, we will see Peter in the house of Simon the tanner, meeting with the Gentile Roman centurion. We will see more stories of Gentiles entering God’s house and receiving His mercy. Let’s look forward to these stories of more Gentiles joining the church. Thank you.
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